Flash-light apparatus



u June 23,192.5. f

E. H. MEDEN Eff m.

FLASH LIGHT APP/uws Filedl opz; 1'7. 1923 Patented June 23, 1925.

' UNITED vSTATES ELOE H. MEDEN, OE SHORT HILLS, AN:O OARL LINEAHL, OE HILLSIDE, NEW JERSEY,

PATENT OFFICE.

ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN GASACOUMULATOR. COMPANY, DEA ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OE NEW JERSEY.- y

FLASH-LIGHT APPARATUS.A

` Application filed October 1"?, 1923. Serial No. $69,185.

T 0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, ELOE H. MEDN- and CARL LINDAHL, respectively a subject of the King of Sweden and a citizen of thevUnited States, and residents of Short Hills, in the county of Union7 State of New Jersey, and Hillside, in the county of Union, Sta-te of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement A in which the diaphragm is actuated by aA gas or liquid under pressure.

One object of the invention 1s to provide an improvement in means for adjusting and.v

controlling the stroke of the flexible diaphragm which improvement is of` general application to flashlight apparatus of the character or type indicated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flashlight apparatus (in which the outlet opening only is adapted to be Opened and closed by an oscillatory valve member) with means for controlling the extent of the stroke of said valve member and for magnetically tending to hold the said member either in closed or open position whereby a more efhcient closing and opening thereof is effected. Y y

In flashlight .apparatus of the type or character under consideration thev stroke of the flexible diaphragm is practically proportional to the amount of gas used and as the quantity of gas is generally very small the means for adjusting the stroke should be sensitive and free from any binding action so as to allow the diaphragm to assume its natural position without kexert` ing eccentric forces upon the regulating means. This is of importance becausethe normal forces acting upon the diaphragm are generally extremely small. A further object of the invention, therefore, is to provide means whereby the liability of any binding action between the diaphragm and the means for adjusting the strokev thereof is eliminated.

In flashlight apparatus in which only the- In the constructions of this character thel valves have been moved toward the valve seat slowly under the influence of the flexible diaphragm as it collapsed during the passage of gas from the casing through the valve controlled outlet provided for that purpose. Inmoving from its open toits closed position the valve would become gradually subjected tothe action of magnetic forces so that the force with which the valve has been caused'to contact with its seat has not been sufficient to insure at all times a tight closing of the valve which has constituted one objectionable feature present in the constructions of the prior art. In the present construction embodying our invention magnetic forces operate to hold the opening and closing valve in both its open and closed positions. Upon the escapeV of gas or other fluid from the casing the flexible diaphragm as it collapses under the in fluence of a springtends to cause closing movementof the valve but such movement is resisted by the holding action of the magnetic'forces. As a result of this resistance a certain amount of force is accumulated within vthe spring until it is finally Sullicient to overcome the magnetic attraction in consequence of which the valve is re leased suddenly with a snap toward the valve seat and is immediately brought under the influence of-magnetic forces tending to attract it to the valve seat and the action of V'these forces combined with the accumulated force of thediaphragm or rather of the spring pressing against the same operates to cause the valve' to strike its seat with a blow of considerable force whereby any dust which may be present is displaced and the valve closely and hermetically sealed. The arrangement of means for effecting this result insures a fixed and constant stroke of the valve lever which is a very desirable feature of construction.

Othersobjectsand#advantages in addition. to those above enumerated willb'e pointed out in the detailed description of our inventionon will be apparent from -such -,de script-ion.

In order that the invention may be readily understood and its practical advantages fully appreciated reference shouldibe had tol the accompanying drawing in which one form of mechanical embodiment thereofis shown. However, it will be understood that thel invention is siisceptibleof einloodig. mentin other forms ofconsti'uction than that shown and that changesin thedetails thereof may `bc made withinthescopeof the,

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken oni the line..

Figvet. is a view taken on the line L -ll ofFig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view talreiion the line v5 5l of Fig; 1,

Referring to the drawings: 1 designates V a casing cl osed at oneend by a flexible di. a-

phragm 2 in the usual and well, known manner. The gas .is adapted to enterthe casing through an inlet 3 and to escape therefrom lirougli an outlet 4 which is,controlled. by

a valve structure comprisinga valve bodyI or seat and an oscillatable valve lever 6; rllhe said. lever 6 is fulcrumed at one end a distance from. the valve seat uponpins 7 secured to the top of the casing 1. The said lever is held againstthese fiilcriim pins by means-ofa pin 8 which engages the under-k side of the lever Gat va point intermediate ing The pin ,8 is supported upon a slightly bowed plate spifing secured Aat its opposite ends to the Vsides of the casing 1, is indicated in 3. The valve lever 6 is so supit is freeto .oscillatebetween the .valve body or seat and an adjustable screw 10 which is securedto one .of the legs (thelower legi ofa U-shapedsteel member 11.

A. steel p late12v is secured vto the under4 side ofgthe top of 'the casing/.1 at one end by.

means of the screw-threaded Steins 121 'of the fulcrumpins 7 by means ofwvliichthe, latter arefsecuredto.the,top o fsaid casing` and' at itsopposite end by means. of the valve body or seatl 5 the screw-threaded upper portion of which extends openingthrougli the said plate. The upper portion of; the said valve seat also passes.

through an opening throughtlie upper leg. of the U-shaped Steelmember 11 so that through an said leg is clamped firmly againstvtl-ieundeiu side of the adjacent end portion of the plate 12-ivhile the latter is clamped against the top of thecasing-1.l Theoppositeendmf said -plate12- isvv likewise .clamped .firmly be tween .the Y base portions .of .the, 'fii l c riim. pins 7 and the opposing underside portion of the topi of jtliecasing 1.

ln the construction embodying our invention either the steel plate 12 or the valve lever 6, which also is of steel. is permanently.

mag i iet ized. Generallythe steel valve lever 6` will be. permanently which; case, the plate A12. i l 7 screw 10 will constitutet-he armature therefor. In` suoli event the magnetic flux,

when the valve is in closed .position as shown., in Fig?. 1 of the drawing7V will pass through. the parts 6, 7, 12, 5 a riclbacl toG and when..

the valve is in open position the said magnetic flux Ywill pass through 6, 7 12i 11 10 and back to l 6. In casethe plate 121 instead of the,valve lever G, should be permanently magnetized. it will beapparent that both the valve. body 5 and the screiv 10 will have the.

same polarity andthe lever 6 in such case would constitute the armature. and `operation will be the same .whether the plate 12 is, permanently, magnetized or whether thevalve lever'f;v is permanently maslletizedf,

The variationin vthe lengths. of the pe,- riods. during whicligasescapes from the flasher casing depends. uponthe stroke of the flexiblediaphragm. For the purpose of regulating such stroke a leverl-l` is pivotally connected .intermediate its lends at the point 14 to. the oscillatable valve lever 6, ata point relatively near its outer or oscillatingend. Tlieinnei" portion l.of the said lever 13 to the leftof itspivot point 14 (having reference to FigL 1 of the drawing) is, in the construction shown, shorter than the opposite or outer end portion thereof. The innerzupper end ofthelever is rounded and pointed;l Aas indicated at 15, `in order that when it contacts with the flat under side ofthe top of the eyelet or bail 16 which is secured to the centralportion of thediaphragm 2 itwill adjust itselfthereto so that there will be no tendency of` a bindinghacticn between the two contacting portions.v The outer endofthe lever 13 is adapted'to contact with the lower end ofan adjustable screw 17 which constitutes a stop lto limitthepivotal movement thereof yupon its pivot at leasthe diaphragm-2 expands.l The screw 17 ,projects eX- teriorly of thecasing to facilitate adjustment thereof'. The .position of the inner end of the adjustable .screw 17 regulatesior controls the extent i of 'outward j movement of the dia:

phragm 2 (under the influence .of the fluid withinthecafsing) beforethevalve lever 6I is'opened and'its position likewise controls magnetized 'in`r the. valve body. the member 11 and the ac ljustalole.v`

The effect ico the extent of inwardvmovement of the diaphragm 2 before the said valve is closed.y

If the adjustable stop 17 should be adjusted outwardly thereby permitting greater outward movement of the diaphragm 2 before the opening of the valve 6 is effected it follows that there must be a correspondingly greater movement of the diaphragm in the op osite direction before the valve is closed. il. spring 18 presses against the outer side of the central portion of thediaphragm 2 and tends to press or force' the same inwardly. f

The speed of entry-,ofthe gas through the inlet 3 into they casing 1 may be controlled by a needle valve 20 which is adjustable from the exterior of the said casing as is apparent.v The period during which the Vvalve lever 6 will remain in closed position will depend upon the rate at which the vHuid is vadmitted into the `chamber 1 and Valso upon .the position of the inner or lower Vend of the adjustable screw 17.

Vhen the valve lever 6 is in open position with its outer or oscillatable end in contact with theinner end of the adjustable screw 10 the gas or other fluidescapes from the casing through the opening through the valve body 5 and the outlet 4. The spring 18 presses against the outer side of the flexible diaphragm '2 or a part connected therewith and tends to cause inward movement thereof and as the gas or other fluid escapes from the chamber of the casing 1 the top of the `eyelet orbail member 16 contacts with the lever 6 and tends to `disengage it from the adjustablescrew Suchrfdis engagement, however, is not effected until the gasor other fluid esc-apes sufficiently' from the chamber of said casing to permit the pressure or forceexerted by thelspring 18 to overcome the force of magnetic attraction between the said lever 6 andthe screw 10. yWhen, however, the gas or otherV fluid has escaped to a sufficient extent to permit the forcefor pressure of the spring 18 toA cause separation of the lever 6 from the screw10 such separation is effected with a snap, the said diaphragm being ksnapped forward under the infiuence ofthe stored up pressure or force of the spring 18 to cause a corresponding quick movement of the lever 6 away from the screw l0 toward its seat upon the valve body 5.

As the valve lever' moves towardits valve seat its motion is accelerated by the force of the magnetic attraction exerted by theivalve lever bodyl thereon. j the valve seat with considerabley force so that it is lirmly'and closely seated against the same to hermetically seal the openingV therethrough.A At the moment of .closure ofl the valve opening by the'valve lever 6 the eyelet orbail member16, may contact with y said lever. i At such time'the point 15 of the The said valve strikes Such outward movement, however, has no leffect upon the valve lever 6 until after the outerend of thelever 13 lcontacts with the lower endof the stop 17. The expansive forceof the gas or other fluid within theY chamber is not suflicient at the moment that the outer end of the lever 13 contacts with the screw 17 to efect separation of the lever 6 from its valve seat with the result that the expansive force of the gas is accumulated so that finally when the valve lever 6 is separated or disconnected from the valve body 5 such separation is effected with a snap or quickly. Outward or opening movement of the lever is limited by the stop 10 which may be adjusted to vary the extent or amplitude of the oscillatory movements of the said valve lever 6.

It will be seen that by our invention we have provided a flashlight apparatus with extremely efficient opening and closing means.

Having thus described our invention, what wek claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: j y

1. In a flashlight apparatus, the combination of a valve lever pivoted at one end, a valve body having an opening adapted to be closed by the said lever, means for limiting the opening movement of said lever, means whereby magnetic forces tend to h-old the said valve lever in its closed or in its open position according as it is in the one or the other position, and means for controling the periods of the closed and open positions of said'valve lever which means comprises a pivoted lever and an adjustable stop member which cooperates therewith.

2.111 a flashlight apparatus, thercombination of a valve lever pivoted at one end, means for vactuating said lever to open and close the same, a valve body having an opening adapted to be closed by the said lever.y means lfor limiting the opening movement of said lever, means whereby magnetic forces tend to hold the said valve lever in its closed or inV its open position according as it is inthe one or the other position, and means comprising an adjustable stop device interposed between said lever and its actu-` end,t a valve V body having Lang openingY which is,adapted` to be opened. andfelesed `by: the ixscillatrngend; portion. of the said valve lever,L a stop, for r limiting `the opening movements oftliesaidyalve lever, means Wherey.portionof the said lever,l anradjustabl'e stop for limitingwthre opxeningmoveinents of tbe said. valve lever, and.,meansassociated with thesaidvalve lever comprising a pivoted lever. v and a step device cooperating thereby magnetie forces acting uponuthe oseillatable'nenfdiportionof the. said valve lever tendto hold; the same either in its closed or` open positionnagainst forces tending tol .open or `close thel sameJ and 'meanstcfompris ing ,an adjustable. stop device :tor E controlling v themovementsof said valve Hl'eyer with re-I Spe/.Qt with@ movementS @t Said'de-Phrase; el, Ina 4tlasblighty apparatus; the com n With for regulating and controlling the fre-Y quency of the oscillations of thesaid valve' 5. In a)flashlrghtapparatus, the combinaof, a easing. provided I with a movable diaphragm :tor closing one end thereon a magnetizedyalve lever pivotally supported at one endytheyotheryend thereof being oscillatable,'a valve body having an outlet opening therethrough y which K is vadapted to be Yclosedgand opened by the oscillatingend. portion ofthe saidlever, an adjusta'blefstop'l for limiting the*y openingv movements of ,the

said lever, and means interposed between the said lever andthey said diaphragm for regn`l lating` band*Controllingthe frequency of the oscillations of4T thezlsaid valvefleverf' which means comprises a. pivoted lever carried by' said valve lever..

6,-` In a flashlight apparatus, the combina-y ,tion' otayalve casing, oney end ofivhich is' closed by a flexible diaphragm and which casing is) provided' with` inletand outlet` openingsthrough which a fluidunder pressure is adaptedto enterand leave the said casing, va valve lever pivoted atone end, the oppositeendof which, 1s adapted` to Close andtopen thesaid outletopening, means 1n.-

terposed between; the said lever vand the saidv diaphragm for controlling the frequency ot ,the opening and closing movements of the said lever which means comprises a pivoted lever and an adjustable stopdevice oo-operating therewith, and 'means whereby the said valve lever is adapted to strike with a Y blow toclose the said outlet o'peninggv.,l

7.`In a flashlight apparatus, the combi-v nation of` a casing, one end of Which is closed by a tlexible diaphragm andvvhieh` casingV is provided with inletf'a'nd outlet openings through/*willen a:l flnid under pres-U sure1` isv adapted E.tou 4enter I and leave j the said Crflllg,` avalvellever lpivoted lat bone' end', the j oppnsite end f; of 1which is adaptedn to close` and open the j said, outlet opening, means" whereby the ls'aidvalfve le'ver is adapted toy be actuated!) byf movements of the said dia-H phragm to effect closing and opening move*- ments of. the said`- leveriand` adjustable means forlimiting the ouitivarjl movement ot' e the said; diaphragm under "the influence of thel pressure of the; tlnid in `said casing.A

8, Ina flashlight apparatus1 the combination of a casing, one end of vvhich is closedV by a tlexiblejdiaphragm andvvhich casingis provided with inlet and` outlet openingsjthrough which a tluid'under pres`y sure enters andleaves thesaid casing,lan osf eillatablevalve member which is adapted to close and open thesaid outlet opening, an adjustable stop, and meansv having connection with the said valve member andinterposed between the saidstop andthe said diaphragm whereby the amplitudeV of the meramente .0f the. Sadl'dfL-phragm. may be rene@ and1wnw11d-f 9 Ina llashlight apparatus, the combination ota'casingp'one end.oit{vvhich is closed by, a vibratory flexiblediaphragm :and which easing isl providedI 'with "inletf ontlet openings tnrough'vvhicli'a liuid under presX sure enters and .leavesfthe saidnasing: an os-l clla-ble valvey Imember Whieh is adapted ty close'andopen the outlet opening, j an4 adj ust.-4 able'l stop, af lever l pivoted': Yinterrnedia'te* its"V ends toy the saidfvalvemember,l oneend of Whieh lever coioperates vvith' tbe said 1dia# phragm Hstructure and is `actuatedftlrerebyl and the other otfvvhieh isy adapted'tQ 'conf tactavith thews'aidadjustablestop- IO'.4 In a tlashlihtA apparatus; the combination j ofL a` easing', one; endi ofv'vvhieh'is clsedfby a fleXible diaphragm and )which casing isv provided with inlet ancL outlet, openingslthroiigh e which a llnid'unler pres? sure isfadapted ltoenterI and'leav ythfejsaidf casing,` anE oseillatable lvalve.. membervvhieh isf adapted toclos'e and openthe'saidjoutlet Opening', an y adju,'stableV Stop.' pr'ietng into; the, .valve feasirig,l a lever `pivotec v int'efrQ-'l' mediate lits lends yto ythe Asaid loscillatable valve memberg'and thehsaid pivot being` nearer to'l one end offsaid lever than to the fother end thereof, the outer end ofjthe longer erid porn4 tion being adapted tomcontact vvitlifthf),.said stop andv therfopposit'e; shorter end portion cooperating' Witli thesaid flexible kdiaf pfllldgm andfbeing 'aetnated thereby." I i 1L Ina aghlght @Parents 'the .Combination of a casing onevendffot1V whichv isl closed by afllez'ible'.diaphragmv andwhieh casing l inlet and outlet openings through which al close and open the said outlet opening, a stop for limiting the opening movements of the said valve lever, connections between the said flexible diaphragm and the said valve lever, said connections being located between said stop and the pivotal point of said lever and means which co-acts with a member of said connections for regulating and controlling the movement of the opening of the said valve lever with respect to the position of the said diaphragm.

12. In a flashlight apparatus, a casing, one end of which is closed by a flexible diaphragm and which casing is provided with inlet and outlet openings through which a fluid is adapted to enter and leave the said casing, a valve lever fulcrumed at one end and the opposite end of which is adapted to close and open the outlet opening, and means interposed between the said valve lever and the said diaphragm whereby movementsof the latter effect opening and closing of the said valve which means comprisesa lever fulcrumed upon the said valve lever.

13. In a flashlight apparatus, a casing, one end of which is closed by a flexible diaphragm and which casing is provided with fluid is adapted to enter and leave the said casing, a fulcrumed valve lever, and adjustable means interposed between said lever and' the said diaphragm for opening' and closing the said valve, said adjustable means comprising a stop which is adjustable and which projects into the said casing from the outside of the same, and a lever pivotally supported upon the said valve lever, one end of which lever is. in co-operative relation to the said diaphragmvand adapted to be actuated thereby while the other end thereof is adapted to Contact with said stop.

14. In a flashlight apparatus, a casing, one end of which is closed by a flexible diaphragm and which casing is provided with inlet and outlet openings through which a fluid under pressure isfadapted to enter and leave thesaid casing, a valve lever for alternately opening and closing said opening, means whereby the said valve lever is positioned in both its closed and open positions in a magnetic circuit, and means interposed between the said valve lever and the said diaphragm for opening and closing the said valve lever which last means comprises a lever fulcrumed upon the said valve lever.

15. In a fiashlight apparatus, the combination of a casing, one end of which is closed by a flexible ydiaphragm and which casing is provided with inlet and outlet openings through which iiuid under pres sure is adapted to enter and leave the said casing, a fulcrumed valve lever, means whereby the said valve lever is situated in a magnetic circuit in both itsk closed and open positions, an adjustable means interposed between said -valve lever and said diaphragm whereby movements of the latter effect closing and opening movement of the said valve lever, said adjustable means comprising an adjustable stop which extends into the said casing, and a lever fulcrumed upon the said valve lever, one end of which lever is in co-operative relation to the said diaphragm and adapted to be actuated thereby while the other end thereof is adapted to contact with said stop.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing vas our invention, we have hereunto signed our names this 11th day of October, A. D. 1923.

ELoF H. MEDN. CARL LINDAHL. 

